Cops told not to use their guns in welcoming the New Year

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has issued a stern warning against its personnel that would be using their service firearms in celebrating the holidays and welcoming the New Year.

PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima issued the said warning on Christmas Eve before embarking on field inspections of firecrackers stalls and factories in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“I warn all our personnel to refrain from using their firearms in greeting the onset of the New Year… otherwise you will certainly end up regretting for the entire 2013 or your entire life,” Purisima said in a statement.

The PNP chief said that there are other safer means of celebrating the holidays or welcoming the New Year even without the use of firearms as he emphasis that policemen should be a role model.

“There are safe means to greet the New Year and our policemen should be the role model in the government’s efforts against the use of dangerous pyrotechnic materials,” Purisima said.

The PNP chief said that policemen that would be caught defying his order on the banning the use of firearms in celebration of Holidays would be met with strict sanctions by administrative and criminal charges.